In Memory and Honor of Dr. George Brown: A Festschrift for Paul H. Elovitz

Paul is a very special friend and colleague of mine and my husband, Dr. George Brown (1937-2016). My reason for writing this brief message is that George is not here to do it, and I believe he would want me to share his heartfelt thoughts.

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George was a clinical and community pediatrician with a deeply rooted commitment to integrating clinical pediatric medical care and behavioral/mental health for children and their families in community settings. I gave George his first subscription to The Journal of Psychohistory as well as Clio’s Psyche “way back when.” He began to attend the Psychohistory Forum meetings regularly, and I joined him for a number of them in New York. I have subsequently attended as many of the Saturday Forums as I can. Of course, I read Clio’s Psyche cover to cover!

During those years, George came to have an abiding respect and admiration for Paul’s work. He spoke many times of the expansive scope and breadth of Paul’s writings, scholarship, and leadership. Of significant meaning to George was the mentoring, support, teaching, collegiality, and camaraderie that Paul offered him in their discussions and exchanges.

George became a dedicated reader of psychohistory. He further incorporated this in his pediatric practice in unique ways with families in crisis, multiple issues of abuse of children, domestic violence, children with disabilities, as well as the world of substance abuse in children and/or their parents. One of his favorites was the “Father’s Café” where fathers created a “talking group” to share and discuss their fatherhood, parenting, children, and struggles. There would be 8-15 men from a swath of life (prison, poor folks, homeless, well-to-do, professional, addicted, victims/perpetrators of violence, young adults/older, veterans, etc.) present for these sessions. There were no “court-mandated” requirements at these events—all were open. George focused on personal history, nature, nurture, and acceptance of who was in the room. He was majestic in this integration. Their stories emanated from that. I wasn’t there (girls and women were not invited), but I know about the stories from when he got home! In a word—yes, there were success stories. George believed these interactions with the men and the history of Paul’s teachings were integral to this success; he was a memorable resource and support for them.

My note of appreciation for Paul is but a token of what George would have had to say and write. So—Paul, my sincere thank you for your history, knowledge, empathy, mentoring skills, writing, challenges, and support for George Brown, a “community pediatrician” in rural Alaska, Vermont, and Kenya who “made a difference” in the lives of children and families.

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